Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Biography
Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, affectionately known as “Mama Na Kazi” for her relentless work ethic and leadership, stands as a towering figure in Kenya’s religious and political landscapes. Born on December 22, 1961, in Nairobi, this Kenyan televangelist, bishop, and politician has navigated a life marked by profound transformation from the depths of urban poverty to the heights of spiritual influence and public service. As the founder and presiding Apostolic Bishop of Jesus Is Alive Ministries (JIAM), an international Pentecostal organization with headquarters in Nairobi and branches across Kenya, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Wanjiru has touched countless lives through her dynamic preaching and media outreach, including the popular TV program The Glory Is Here. Her political journey, spanning roles in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Jubilee Party, and now as Chairperson of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, underscores her commitment to governance, women’s empowerment, and urban renewal in Kenya.
At 63 years old as of 2025, Wanjiru’s story is one of resilience, faith, and unyielding ambition. She embodies the Kenyan Pentecostal movement’s blend of spiritual fervor and entrepreneurial spirit, often described as “BMW” (Bishop Margaret Wanjiru) by supporters who see her as a symbol of empowered leadership. This biography delves into her multifaceted life, exploring how a woman raised in Nairobi’s slums rose to become a vocal advocate for national policy, a trailblazer for female bishops in Africa, and a key player in Kenya’s church state dynamics. From her early struggles to her latest environmental initiatives, Wanjiru’s legacy offers invaluable lessons on perseverance, ethical leadership, and the intersection of faith and politics insights that resonate not just for Kenyans but for global audiences seeking inspiration in overcoming adversity.
Early Life and Background
Margaret Wanjiru Kariuki entered the world on December 22, 1961, as the third child in a family of casual laborers in Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling capital. Her upbringing was steeped in the harsh realities of urban poverty, a common plight in post colonial Kenya where economic disparities fueled the growth of informal settlements and slum life. Raised primarily by her hardworking single mother in a modest detached house reserved for servants likely in one of Nairobi’s low income areas like the Eastlands slums Wanjiru witnessed firsthand the grind of daily survival. Her father, absent from much of her narrative, left the family to rely on her mother’s resilience, who juggled odd jobs to provide basics like food and shelter.
As a teenager, Wanjiru’s life mirrored the struggles of many Kenyan girls in low income households: she hawked goods on the streets, worked as a house help, and took on petty trading to contribute to the family’s upkeep. These experiences instilled in her a fierce independence and work ethic, themes that would later define her ministry and political ethos. “Poverty was not just a word; it was our reality,” Wanjiru has reflected in interviews, crediting her mother’s discipline for keeping her focused on education despite the temptations of the streets. This era also exposed her to Nairobi’s underbelly, including brief forays into desperate measures for financial stability, which she later renounced upon her spiritual awakening.
Wanjiru’s early life adds immense value to understanding Kenya’s social fabric: it highlights the role of single mothers in fostering resilience amid economic inequality, a narrative echoed in stories of other Kenyan success figures like Wangari Maathai. For readers, her journey underscores the power of grit in transforming personal hardship into communal empowerment, offering practical takeaways like community based education initiatives for slum youth.
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Education
Education became Wanjiru’s ladder out of poverty, though it was hard won through her mother’s sacrifices and her own determination. She completed primary and secondary schooling in Nairobi’s public institutions, where her mother’s emphasis on discipline helped her excel despite financial strains. By her late teens, Wanjiru was self funding further studies through menial jobs, enrolling in sales and marketing courses that marked her entry into the corporate world.
Her higher education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Management from St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya a credential that bridged her professional ambitions with her emerging spiritual calling. She also earned a second bachelor’s in Christian Leadership from the United Graduate College and Seminary International, followed by a Doctor of Theology from Vineyard Harvester Bible College. These qualifications, while occasionally scrutinized amid political rivalries, equipped her with tools for ministry management and public advocacy.
Career
Wanjiru’s career is a tapestry of corporate grit, spiritual revival, and political boldness, reflecting her evolution from survivor to influencer.
Her professional beginnings in 1985 saw her as a sales executive promoting Marlboro cigarettes, a role she secured after rising from a cleaner position at a company that took pity on her street hawking days. A pivotal moment came when, in a fit of frustration, she splashed hot tea on her boss after enduring verbal abuse an act she attributes to a divine intervention that redirected her life toward faith. Homeless and jobless, she turned to street preaching in Nairobi, marking her born again conversion.
In the early 1990s, Wanjiru founded Jesus Is Alive Ministries (JIAM), starting with small gatherings that exploded into a megachurch empire. As Apostolic Bishop, she oversees a congregation of thousands, emphasizing women’s empowerment, poverty alleviation, and media evangelism via The Glory Is Here a program that has “transformed nations,” per her bio. JIAM’s international footprint includes branches in major diaspora hubs, making Wanjiru a key entity in Kenya’s Pentecostal export.
Politically, she entered the fray in 2007, winning the Starehe Constituency MP seat on an ODM ticket amid a hotly contested race against Maina Kamanda. Appointed Assistant Minister for Housing in 2008, she championed urban policies until 2013. A 2010 by election victory solidified her hold, but she later switched to Jubilee Party, ran unsuccessfully for Nairobi Governor in 2017, and accepted a Senate endorsement from William Ruto in 2022 before withdrawing for party unity. By October 2024, President William Ruto appointed her Chairperson of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, tasking her with reclaiming polluted waterways through policy reviews and community engagement a role she holds as of 2025, blending her environmental advocacy with faith based outreach.
Personal Life and Family
Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s personal life is a blend of quiet devotion and public scrutiny, centered on her role as a single mother and grandmother. Married at 18 to James Kamangu Ndimu, a cobbler and potter from Gachie, Kiambu, their union produced three children: Stephen Kariuki (former Mathare MP and politician), Evans Kariuki, and Purity Kariuki. The marriage, strained by poverty and Wanjiru’s ambitions, ended in separation; Kamangu, who claimed common law status, passed away after a contentious public fallout. Now a grandmother to seven, Wanjiru prioritizes family resilience, often crediting her children for disowning Kamangu publicly during her 2007 political rise to shield her campaign.
In 2006 2007, Wanjiru announced her engagement to South African pastor Samuel Matjeke, but legal challenges from Kamangu halted the wedding, sparking tabloid frenzy. Today, single and focused, she channels her energy into JIAM and public service, embodying themes of women’s independence in Kenyan celebrity divorces.
Controversies and Challenges
No biography of Bishop Wanjiru is complete without addressing the storms that have tested her fortitude, from personal scandals to institutional clashes. Her 2007 wedding to Matjeke unraveled amid Kamangu’s lawsuit claiming paternity and marital rights, with her children publicly denouncing him allegedly fueled by political opponents in the Starehe race. As Assistant Housing Minister, she faced corruption allegations over fraudulent land allocations, eroding public trust. Her academic credentials drew fire in 2013, with rivals questioning their legitimacy during her gubernatorial bid, leading to her ODM nomination loss to Elizabeth Ongoro.
The 2010 election recount nearly cost her seat to Maina Kamanda, resolved only by a by election victory. In 2017, she was arrested for disrupting a polling station during nominations. More recently, in March 2024, rowdy youths allegedly backed by Kenya Railways Corporation demolished parts of JIAM’s Haile Selassie Avenue headquarters, injuring Wanjiru and prompting accusations of political sabotage against the Kenya Kwanza government she had campaigned for. By February 2025, the saga reignited with further demolitions and phone confiscations, which Wanjiru called “politically motivated.” A court dismissed her 2022 challenge to the land grab in 2024.
In June 2025, Wanjiru revealed a controversial past in Freemasonry and Illuminati ties, joined during financial desperation at Marlboro but abandoned after a divine “call” at a Uhuru Park crusade framing it as a redemption arc but stirring debates on church authenticity.
Conclusion
Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s biography is a testament to the alchemy of faith, fortitude, and foresight in shaping Kenya’s future. From Nairobi’s impoverished streets to the helm of JIAM and the Nairobi Rivers Commission, she has redefined what it means to be a female bishop in Africa and a politician with spiritual depth. Her estimated net worth, speculated in the millions of Kenyan shillings from ministry assets and political earnings (exact figures undisclosed), pales against her intangible wealth: empowered communities, policy reforms, and a legacy of “Mama Na Kazi” tenacity. As of 2025, her river reclamation efforts promise cleaner urban waterways, while JIAM continues soul winning globally.
Wanjiru challenges us to embrace “Godly politics” leadership fearing divine accountability over human applause. Her story adds profound value: for readers, it’s a blueprint for turning trials into triumphs; for search engines, comprehensive coverage of her as a Kenyan Christian leader in politics. Engage with her work via JIAM’s resources or the Nairobi Rivers Commission your action could spark the next wave of change.
FAQs
Who is Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s husband?
Bishop Margaret Wanjiru was previously married to the late James Kamangu Ndimu, with whom she separated early in life. She has been single since, following a failed 2007 engagement to South African pastor Samuel Matjeke due to legal disputes.
What is Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s education?
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Management from St. Paul’s University, a second bachelor’s in Christian Leadership from United Graduate College and Seminary International, and a Doctor of Theology from Vineyard Harvester Bible College.
What is Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s net worth?
Exact figures are not publicly confirmed, but estimates place her net worth in the millions of Kenyan shillings, derived from JIAM’s global operations, book sales, and past political salaries.
What controversies surround Bishop Margaret Wanjiru?
Key issues include the 2024 2025 church demolition saga with Kenya Railways, past Freemasonry admissions, election disputes, corruption allegations during her ministerial tenure, and family legal battles.
What is Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s political career?
She served as Starehe MP (2007 2013) on ODM, Assistant Minister for Housing, switched to Jubilee, ran for Nairobi Governor (2017, lost), and was appointed Nairobi Rivers Commission Chairperson in 2024.
Who are Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s children?
She has three: sons Stephen Kariuki (former Mathare MP) and Evans Kariuki, and daughter Purity Kariuki; she is also a grandmother to seven.
What is Jesus Is Alive Ministries?
JIAM, founded by Wanjiru in the 1990s, is an international Pentecostal church headquartered in Nairobi, focusing on evangelism, women’s empowerment, and community outreach with global branches.